Frequently Asked Questions

How does the program work?Summer Research Fellows are each assigned to a mentor. The mentor may be a health or research professional from any department in our health system. Under the mentor’s guidance, and with the help of Department of Research support staff, Fellows complete a research project. At the end of the summer, Fellows present their findings in a PowerPoint at a noon conference attended by staff, Fellowship benefactors, and invited friends and family. Project results are commonly submitted for presentation at regional and national conferences, and the project abstracts are often published in conference proceedings. A few fortunate Fellows have even gone on to coauthor articles in such respected publications as the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases, and the Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine.

What do Summer Research Fellows do?In the first week or so, fellows usually do a fair amount of searching the literature to acquaint themselves with the chosen topic before beginning the real work. What you do after that depends upon the project your mentor has chosen for you. Past Fellows have collected data from paper and electronic patient medical records, administered and analyzed surveys, and conducted laboratory research.

Do I get to choose my area of research?While you will be asked to express your preferences, placement will depend upon mentor availability, your completion of relevant classes, and your interview. Past Fellows have worked in obstetrics & gynecology, general surgery, bariatric surgery, cardiology, hematology-oncology, radiology, community & preventive care services, nursing, microbiology research laboratory, bereavement & advance care planning services, and neurosurgery, to name some of the most popular areas.

I’m in/thinking of applying to medical school. Will I be able to shadow physicians in various specialties?
Yes, subject to scheduling availability, Fellows are allowed a maximum of one (1) shadow experience per week.

What if my grade point average is lower than 3.2? Is there a chance you will consider my application if I have other qualifications? Your grade point average must be 3.2 or above—no exceptions. Because we have so many highly qualified applicants, we use grade point as one way to narrow the already crowded field.

Do all parts of my application have to be sent in at once?No. In fact, your certified transcript must be sent directly from your registrar, and your letters of recommendation must be sent directly from your recommenders.

When will applicants be notified?
Interviews will be conducted in March, with final selection to be made by mid April. Interviews are preferred in person but, at our discretion, exceptions might be made for candidates for whom a long trip would be a hardship.